The business that makes money on genetic research is developing all over the world. However, the craze for DNA testing is observed in China. Why, according to Bloomberg
Research firm Global Market Insights Inc. notes that by 2025, the income of the business providing genetic testing services will grow from $41 million to $136 million. The ever-growing demand has led to the emergence of dozens of companies in China offering DNA tests for newborns and infants. The companies promise to help parents find “potential talents” in their children, from logic and math to sports and even emotional intelligence.
With 2018 million babies born in China in 15, the appeal of such tests is obvious. After decades of strict population control laws that were lifted in 2016, most Chinese still have one child to look forward to. Parents want their child to win from an early age, and for this it is necessary to develop those skills for which he has a predisposition.
Gil McQueen, a geneticist at the University of Oxford, argues that there is no scientific basis for predicting human talent from DNA. This is more like a horoscope than science: the presence of a certain gene in a person does not predict his future. It can only indicate the likelihood of developing a condition or trait. However, representatives of the Chinese company Gene Discovery, which provides genetic testing services, say they do not provide clear guidelines – only advice on how to develop children’s talents in a “hyper-competitive culture”.
The transformation of China into a superpower is one of the main goals of President Xi Jinping, writes Bloomberg. And few things illustrate his ambition better than the nation’s fascination with DNA testing. However, given the great competition for admission to good universities, perhaps soon DNA tests to determine the talents of kids will gain popularity around the world.